Program Director (Thompson House)

  • Full Time
  • Bronx, NY
  • Applications have closed

Rising Ground

Full Job Description
Overview
As part of the Close to Home initiative to provide juvenile justice residential placement services in New York City close to communities, families and schools of the youth supported, the Bronx NSP utilizes the Missouri Model approach to create a safe and therapeutic environment to support youth to prevent their re-involvement with the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Additionally, wraparound services and supports are provided to families to promote a smooth transition for the youth and family when they return home.
Responsibilities
The Director is responsible for the overall operation, oversight, and programming of the Bronx Non-Secure Placement (NSP), a 12 bed non-secure program for adjudicated youth boys mostly middle school age. The Director ensures all daily living needs and essential treatment services are provided to youth. This involves creating and supporting a physically and emotionally safe environment for youth and staff as well as utilizing a teaching component in all program areas and interactions.
The Director must be able to seamlessly promote a safe and secure environment for creating a safe residence for youth to participate in the therapeutic milieu. The Director will be on call 24/7 and must be available to work flexible hours. It is critical that the Program Director promote the model and work closely with the NSP program staff, model consultants, and the Director of Justice for Youth and Families Programs to promote continuous improvement in supports and services provided at the NSP.
Supervisory Responsibility: The Program Director will assume supervisory responsibilities for the administrative and clinical teams as well as administrative assistant and program cook. The Director will facilitate at least bi-weekly senior team meetings, administrative team meetings and supervision to review and monitor challenges and provide feedback to support the program staff. In addition, the Director will facilitate and co-facilitate, with the administrative team, weekly all staff team meetings. As the most senior manager in the program, the Director is responsible for all staff working in the program and ensuring the administrative team is providing adequate supervision and support to their direct reports and youth and families supported by the program.
Qualifications
Preferred master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a focus in Counseling, Criminal Justice, Education, Psychology, Sociology, or Social Work; and, five or more years (preferred) of professional experience in the treatment of adolescents/young people which involved the supervision of staff and youth and responsibility for providing group and individual counseling and related treatment services.

 

Supervisory experience:

Case Planning experience, including a deep knowledge of Connections and Foster Care regulations a plus.
Professional experience in the treatment of adolescents which involved group or individual counseling techniques may substitute on a year-for-year basis for deficiencies in the required degree
Excellent writing and organizational skills
Proficient with Microsoft Office suite
Possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license and clean driving record
Physically able to perform and train therapeutic physical retrains
Bi-lingual (Spanish) a plus
Ability to train, supervise and manage staff issues such as accountability compliance, engagement difficulties, etc.
Strong clinical skills.
Ability to work with respect for cultural diversity.
Ability to work with adolescents.
Very good interpersonal/communication skills.
Belief in the capacity of people to grow and change.
Ability to intervene decisively, when necessary, to protect family members.
Ability to set appropriate boundaries and limits for best practice.
Ability to internalize and work within the Missouri Approach philosophy and model.

Preferred Education and Experience: Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, not required. Experience working in Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice and experience testifying in Family/Criminal Court.

 

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Plans, implements, supervise, and evaluates the details of a group treatment program, including the treatment models’ fidelity, and the provision of individualized services for adjudicated youth.
Oversees and when necessary lead in guiding the group interaction process.
In conjunction with Human Resources, screens, interviews, and hires NSP staff, and provides specific program-related orientation for new staff.
With assistance from NSP administrative team, monitors progress of ensures training compliance.
Ensures program operates within budgetary constraints
Initiates purchase requests; receives supplies and equipment; and maintains related fiscal and inventory control records
Maintains personnel and budgetary records for the program
Collect information for program effectiveness.
Develops and promotes community relations with NYC Department of Education, public and/or private social services and other agencies, and programs.
Meets with local officials, public and private agency heads, community groups, and the general public to explain the facility’s functions, programs, and role in the community. Solicits community support
Supervises the planning of menus and food services
Ensure the maintenance and cleanliness of the physical facility, and the upkeep and operation of on-site equipment;
Ultimate responsibility for security in buildings, grounds, and other posts; intervenes during emergencies or altercations to prevent escapes and maintains physical control of youth twenty-four [24] hours a day, seven [7] days a week.
Develops community resources.
Run the program’s Community Advisory Board.
Directly supervises case planning activities and ensures that all Rising Ground, City, State, and Federal mandates are met and exceeded.
Manage systems to ensure contractual timelines for documentation and reports are met.
Directly supervise the clinical team
Supervises staff and youth working a variety of shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime; ability to respond to crises situations when necessary Establishes and maintains working relationships with staff, community groups, the courts, other agencies, and the general public.
Exercises considerable judgment, discretion and initiative in the performance of duties within established policies and procedures
Performs other related work as assigned.